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Matthew 11

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What does Matthew 11:20 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 11:20 is a part of a narrative in which Jesus Christ rebukes the cities where He had performed many miracles because the people there did not repent.

Despite witnessing his "mighty works," which refers to the miracles, healings, and teachings that Jesus conducted, the inhabitants remained unrepentant and did not change their ways or believe in his message.

This verse underscores the expectation that the witnessing of miraculous events should lead to spiritual transformation and highlights the theme of accountability for one's response to divine intervention.

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Historical Context

At the time Matthew 11:20 was written, Jesus had been actively ministering to the people of Galilee.

The cities mentioned in subsequent verses, such as Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, were significant places where Jesus carried out much of his ministry.

In the historical context, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation and experienced various forms of social and religious oppression.

The miracles of Jesus were signs meant to validate his authority and message of the Kingdom of God, and his call for repentance was a central element of his teaching.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the demand for repentance in Matthew 11:20 reflects the belief in a necessary personal response to God's revelation.

Many Christian theologians interpret this verse as an illustration of human free will and the responsibility of individuals to respond to God's grace with a change of heart and actions.

Additionally, the lack of repentance in these cities is seen as a caution against spiritual indifference and a warning about the judgment that comes from rejecting Christ's message.

Practical Applications

Matthew 11:20 can be applied in daily life by serving as a reminder of the importance of responding to spiritual truth with appropriate action. This includes examining one's own life for areas where change is needed and being open to transformation.

Additionally, it teaches that seeing signs, wonders, or experiencing blessings alone is not adequate; an active response in one's beliefs and behaviors is required.

Cross-References

Luke 10:13-15 - Similar to Matthew 11:20, Jesus reproaches unrepentant cities.
Matthew 12:41 - Refers to the people of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah.
Revelation 2:5 - The call to repentance is also seen in this warning to the church in Ephesus.
James 4:17 - This verse teaches about the sin of knowing the good one ought to do and failing to do it.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, some keywords are worth examining:

"Upbraid" (ὀνειδίζω, oneidizō): To reproach or criticize sharply; a strong public censure.
"Repented" (μετανοέω, metanoeō): To change one's mind or purpose, usually implying a turning away from sin.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Matthew 11:20 with other cultural and religious contexts, the concept of divine retribution for lack of repentance is not unique to Christianity.

Similar themes can be found in ancient Greek and Roman myths where gods punish mortals for their hubris and failure to heed warnings.

In Judaism, the prophets often called for repentance with the threat of divine judgment, as seen in the stories of prophets like Jeremiah and Jonah.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community typically does not engage with biblical miracles due to their supernatural nature and the inability to test them empirically.

However, the concept of personal transformation, as called for in this verse, may intersect with psychological understandings of human behavior change and the role of cognitive dissonance when one's actions do not align with their beliefs.

commentaries

Various commentaries on Matthew 11:20 provide different insights:

The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes Jesus' disappointment with the cities that witnessed his miracles yet remained unrepentant, suggesting a greater accountability for those exposed to truth and grace.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary points out the aggravation of the sin of impenitence under such clear light and evidence of the truth of Jesus' mission and doctrines.
William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible series suggests that the tragic fact is not that these cities were especially bad, but that they were blind to the goodness of God when it came to them, therefore missing their chance to change.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 11:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?